Dur"ance (?), n. [OF. durance duration, fr. L. durans, -antis, p. pr. durare to endure, last. See Dure, and cf. Durant.]
1.
Continuance; duration. See Endurance.
[Archaic]
Of how short durance was this new-made state!
Dryden.
2.
Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a jailer; duress. Shak.
"
Durance vile."
Burns.
In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint.
Pope.
3. (a)
A stout cloth stuff, formerly made in imitation of buff leather and used for garments; a sort of tammy or everlasting.
Where didst thou buy this buff? let me not live but I will give thee a good suit of durance.
J. Webster.
(b)
In modern manufacture, a worsted of one color used for window blinds and similar purposes
.
© Webster 1913.